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Biomedical subjects

S Roll

Publications and source records attributed to S Roll.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Two simple questions to diagnose post-stroke depression].

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Many patients develop a depression after having suffered a stroke. Such a Post-Stroke Depression (PSD) impairs rehabilitation and quality of life. PSD is underdiagnosed in spite of available treatment. Several questionnaires have been created to diagnose a PSD. But questionnaires have been considered cumbersome and time-consuming. The aim of this study was to find out whether two simple, standardised questions will identify those stroke patients, who have developed a PSD. METHODS: The two case-finding questions and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were sent to patients of the Berlin Acute Stroke Study (BASS) four years after their stroke. Incomplete questionnaires were complemented via mail or telephone. Severity of depression was assessed by means of BDI. RESULTS: Out of 211 patients, 199 responded to the questionnaire (94 %). 193 questionnaires were complete (97 %). Forty-two patients affirmed both case-finding questions (22 %). Compared to patients, who did not affirm both questions, these patients had a higher BDI score (19 +/- 8 vs. 7 +/- 5; p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the two questions were 89 % and 90 %, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value were 60 % and 98 % respectively. The number of confirmed questions (0, 1, 2) correlated well with the BDI score (r (2) = 0.67, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Two standardized questions can identify patients with PSD for further diagnostic evaluation and therapy. Diagnosis of PSD might be facilitated by using them as screening instrument.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Emergency department delays in acute stroke - analysis of time between ED arrival and imaging.

We determined the factors leading to emergency department (ED) delays in patients with acute stroke. Data were collected prospectively in four Berlin inner-city hospitals by ED documentation, medical records, imaging files and patient interviews. An extended Cox proportional hazards model was fitted to the data. Analyses were performed in 558 patients with confirmed diagnosis of stroke. Median time from admission at ED to beginning of computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI) was 108 min. In a subgroup of patients potentially eligible for thrombolysis with a pre-hospital delay <120 min and a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) >4 (n = 74), the median interval to imaging was 68 min. Multivariable analysis revealed that a more severe initial NIHSS, a pre-hospital delay <3 h, admission at two specific hospitals, admission at weekends, and private health insurance were significantly associated with reduced delays. In stroke patients, the time interval between ED admission and imaging depends both on factors that emerge from clinical needs and on factors independent of clinical necessities. Considering the urgency of therapeutic measures in acute stroke, there is necessity and room for both improvement of in-hospital management and of medical and non-medical factors influencing pre-hospital delays.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Direct and indirect costs in a prospective cohort of patients with pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer with a low survival time. So far, there have been no studies assessing direct and indirect costs in individual patients. AIM: To assess prospectively the cost of illness in patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Patients were consecutively included at first admission to hospital. Sociodemographic factors, medical resource use and employment status were assessed by patient interviews and from medical records in a standardized way. Costs were calculated from the perspectives of the hospital, social insurance and society. Linear regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with costs. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients were admitted with suspected pancreatic cancer. Of these patients, 45 (79%) had pancreatic cancer as final diagnosis, 11 (19%) pancreatitis and one patient cystadenoma. The median survival was 10.9 months in patients with pancreatic cancer. Per month of observation from societal perspective, total costs were 4075 for patients. Costs of hospitalizations were responsible for 75% of total costs. In multivariable analyses, surgery, a lower educational level, younger age, and the prevalence of metastases were significantly associated with higher total costs. CONCLUSIONS: Costs are considerable in patients with pancreatic cancer. Our results may facilitate further economic evaluations and aid health policy-makers in resource allocation.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of the short form (SF)-12 health status instrument with the SF-36 in patients with coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a shorter health status instrument, the short form (SF)-12, is comparable with its longer version, the SF-36, for measuring health related quality of life of patients with coronary heart disease. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with follow up at six and 12 months. SETTING: 18 cardiac rehabilitation centres in Germany. PATIENTS: Patients were enrolled at admission to the rehabilitation centres after myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. ANALYSES: Correlation coefficients were calculated between SF-12 and SF-36 physical component summary (PCS-12/-36) and mental component summary (MCS-12/-36) scores and the respective change scores. Responsiveness to change was determined with the standardised response mean. MAIN RESULTS: 2441 patients were enrolled (78% men, mean (SD) age 60 (10) years; 22% women, 65 (10) years). Baseline PCS-12 and PCS-36 scores were highly correlated (r = 0.96, p < 0.001), as were baseline MCS-12 and MCS-36 scores (r = 0.96, p < 0.001). Similarly, change scores between baseline and 12 months were highly correlated (PCS-12/-36: r = 0.94, p < 0.001; MCS-12/-36: r = 0.95, p < 0.001). There was no difference in standardised response means between the SF-12 and SF-36 scales. CONCLUSIONS: The SF-12 summary measures replicate well the SF-36 summary measures and show similar responsiveness to change. The SF-12 appears to be an efficient alternative to the SF-36 for the assessment of health related quality of life of patients with coronary heart disease.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed2000

Comparative pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of candesartan and losartan in man.

The angiotensin II antagonistic effects of candesartan and losartan were compared in-vivo after single and repeated doses. Effects were related to antagonistic activity in plasma. In this double-blind, crossover study, 12 healthy male volunteers received, in random order, daily oral doses of 8 mg candesartan cilexetil or 50 mg losartan for seven days. On day 1 and day 8, dynamics and kinetics were assessed up to 48 h after dosing. Antagonistic effect was determined from the antagonist-induced rightward shifts of the diastolic blood pressure response curves to exogenously administered angiotensin II measured as the dose ratio (DR). The antagonistic activity in plasma was measured using an ex-vivo/in-vitro radioreceptor assay. Specific high-performance liquid chromatography assays determined plasma concentrations of candesartan, losartan and its active metabolite EXP-3174. The pharmacokinetic properties of candesartan and losartan were comparable and antagonistic activity in plasma almost identical (ratio candesartan: losartan = 0.97 and 1-2 after single and multiple doses, respectively). However, the antagonistic effects of candesartan and losartan in-vivo were quite different. Twenty-four hours after single dosing with candesartan a clinically relevant rightward shift in the angiotensin II dose-response curve (DR= 3.2) occurred that was more pronounced than that following losartan administration (DR=2.1, ratio candesartan: losartan= 1.65). Twenty-four hours after multiple doses of candesartan or losartan, the values of the DR were 4.8 and 2.3, respectively (ratio candesartan: losartan = 1.94). The values of DR for candesartan were significantly higher compared with losartan between 6 and 36h after a single dose and between 3 and 24 h post-dose following multiple dose administration. A counter-clockwise hysteresis was apparent between antagonistic activity in plasma and antagonistic effect. Despite equivalent angiotensin II antagonistic activity in plasma, the pharmacodynamic effect of candesartan cilexetil was greater than that of losartan. Candesartan appeared to have a slower off-rate from the angiotensin AT1-receptor compared with losartan, nevertheless differences in distributional phenomena or the extent of insurmountable antagonistic activity cannot be ruled out.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The moral justification scale: reliability and validity of a new measure of care and justice orientations.

Research increasingly suggests that there are limitations to Kohlberg's theory of moral development. Gilligan in particular has observed that Kohlberg's theory considers abstract principled reasoning as the highest level of moral judgment, and penalizes those who focus on the interpersonal ramifications of a moral decision. Gilligan calls these justice and care orientations. The present paper describes the development of the Moral Justification Scale, an objective measure of the two orientations. The scale consists of six vignettes, of which two are justice oriented, two are care oriented, and two are mixed, incorporating both orientations. Construct validity was evaluated by expert judges and, overall, was high. Cronbach's alpha was .75 for the Care subscale and .64 for the Justice subscale, indicating adequate internal consistency. Split-half reliabilities were as follows: Care, r = .72, p < .01, and Justice, r = .60, p < .05. Regarding test-retest reliability (approximately two weeks), r = .61, p < .05, for Care; r = .69, p < .05, for Justice. Neither subscale correlated significantly with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Thus, the Moral Justification Scale shows promise as an easily administered, objectively scored measure of Gilligan's constructs of care and justice.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1998

Angiotensin II antagonism and plasma radioreceptor-kinetics of candesartan in man.

AIMS: The pharmacodynamic properties of the angiotensin II antagonist candesartan in humans were assessed from the rightward shifts of angiotensin II dose-effect curves (Schild regression technique). The pharmacokinetic characteristics were determined by radioreceptor assay (r.r.a.) and h.p.l.c. METHODS: Twelve healthy male volunteers received single oral doses of 4, 8 and 16 mg candesartan cilexetil and placebo. Plasma was obtained for h.p.l.c. and r.r.a. (receptors: rat lung; radioligand: [125I-Sar1Ile8]-angiotensin II). Before and up to 24 h post dosing angiotensin II was infused in ascending dose steps until blood pressure (systolic and/or diastolic) increased by +25 mmHg. Individual angiotensin II dose-effect curves were fitted according to an Emax model and dose ratios (DR) calculated from the antagonist induced rightward shifts. RESULTS: Candesartan, the active metabolite of candesartan cilexetil, declined from peak concentrations at about 4 h with a t1/2 of about 6 h. A linear relation (slope 1) between h.p.l.c. and r.r.a. data revealed that there is no other active metabolite. DR at 6-9 h post dosing reached a maximum of about 30 and at 24 h still amounted to 4-7, indicating the persistence of a relevant antagonistic effect in vivo. The apparent Ki-doses (derived from Schild regression plots) indicated a high potency (1.9 mg at 24 h) and slow decline of effect. Between plasma concentrations and antagonistic effect a counterclockwise hysteresis was visible. CONCLUSIONS: A longer persistence of the antagonistic effect at the receptor site than expected by the presence in plasma indicates a slow off-rate of candesartan cilexetil from in vivo receptors. This provides an additional rationale for the observed 24 h therapeutic activity of candesartan cilexetil.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1998

Transabdominal or totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic hernia repair?

Laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernias follows some principles that have already proven its efficiency, as a posterior approach and the prosthetic repair that allows a "tension-free" repair with consequent early return to work and low recurrence rate. To determine the most appropriate laparoscopic repair, we compared the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and the totally extraperitoneal (TEP) approach. Patients undergoing TAPP and TEP were compared regarding technical feasibility and difficulties, time until return to work and follow-up, including intraoperative and postoperative complications. Seventy-eight patients (108 hernias) were submitted to TAPP and 67 (100 hernias) were repaired through TEP. All data were analyzed by Yates-corrected chi-square test to qualitative analysis of each group and p < or = 0.05 was considered significant. Both procedures were indicated mainly for bilateral and/or recurrent hernias (68%). The operative time was shorter in TAPP (not statistically significant). Surgeons complained of more technical difficulties while performing the TEP approach (70% complaints of difficulty in TEP--four conversions to TAPP). There was no difference in hospital stay (mean of 30 h) and return to work (TAPP 7 days and TEP 5.5 days). Regarding the complication rate (TAPP = 20.5% and TEP = 13.5%; not significant), none were related to the pneumoperitoneum technique or its systemic effects. In the TAPP approach, two trocar site hernias occurred, and in the TEP approach, one severe cellulitis occurred, which was managed without surgical intervention. The mean follow-up period for each procedure was not the same, so the recurrence rates are not comparable statistically (rate of 1.85% in TAPP and 0 in TEP). Both techniques are safe and have the same advantages, but TAPP is easier: a better view of the anatomy is achieved, shortening the learning curve. We suggest that TAPP can be an adequate laparoscopic approach to groin hernias. A longer follow-up period and more cases are needed to determine recurrence rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cross-cultural considerations in custody and parenting plans.

Children are entitled to their cultural heritage and it is important to their development. Cultural considerations must be incorporated in devising custody and parenting plans. Several generalizations are useful. Children are capable of integrating highly diverse and even contradictory cultural and religious identity fragments. The more distinctly a child's cultural inheritance varies from that of the dominant society, the more it must be taken into account. The more bias or hostility that exists against an aspect of the child's cultural inheritance, the more that cultural component is to be considered. The value of culture to the child is best seen in a developmental context. We are limited in our ability to ensure children's rights to cultural inheritance by our own ethnocentrism or ignorance, by bureaucratic or legalistic definitions of cultural identity, by the desire of one parent to reduce the contribution of the other parent, and by a tendency to rely on consistency as a value in and of itself.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The relationship of homophobia to intimacy in heterosexual men.

Interpersonal intimacy is more difficult to achieve for American men than women. Research has shown that men disclose less, have fewer close friendships, and are viewed by their wives as low in intimacy. Among the barriers to intimacy among men, Tognoli (1980) suggested that homophobia is the most powerful. The present study tested this idea by asking men to disclose a personal secret to either a male confidant, a female confidante, or by writing the secret. It was expected that the presence of a male confidant would stimulate homophobic feelings and inhibit disclosure, while the other two conditions would result in more personal disclosure. A correlation between intimacy of disclosure and level of homophobia was also expected. Subjects were 75 heterosexual men, 31 to 50 years of age, randomly assigned to one of the three conditions. They also completed the Miller Social Intimacy Scale, the Jourard Self-Disclosure Questionnaire, the Index of Homophobia, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Results showed that homophobia was inversely related to level of social intimacy. There was some indication that homophobia does relate to less intimate disclosure to other males. Thus this study found some support for the idea that homophobia is an obstacle to intimacy for men.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Method specificity of non-invasive blood pressure measurement: oscillometry and finger pulse pressure vs acoustic methods.

1. The agreement of blood pressure measurements by stethoscope auscultation (SBPa, DBPa-IV and DBPa-V), oscillometry (Dinamap; SBPo, and DBPo) and digital photoplethysmography (Finapres; SBPf, and DBPf) with the graphical analysis of the analogue microphone signals of vascular wall motion sound (SBPg and DBPg) was evaluated in eight healthy subjects in the presence of responses to the intravenous infusion of 1 microgram min-1 isoprenaline. 2. In general, there was good agreement between the SBP/DBP-measurements based on auscultatory Korotkoff-I- and IV-criteria and the reference method; the average method difference in estimating the isoprenaline responses for SBPa-SBPg was: -1.1, 95% CI: -5.4 to 3.1 mm Hg with a within-subject between-method repeatability coefficient (REP) of 11.6 mm Hg and for DBPa-IV-DBPg: 3.5, 95% CI: -0.5 to 6.5 mm Hg, REP: 11.5 mm Hg. The ausculatation of Korotkoff-V substantially overestimated the isoprenaline induced reduction of DBP: method difference DBPa-V-DBPg: -11.3, 95% CI: -17.8 to -4.7 mm Hg, REP: 31.8 mm Hg. 3. Oscillometry yielded good approximations for the SBP response to isoprenaline (average method difference SBPo-SBPg: -2.9, 95% CI: -9.0 to 3.3 mm Hg, REP: 17.6 mm Hg) but was poorly sensitive with regard to the DBP responses: method difference DBPo-DBPg: 6.5, 95% CI: -1.3 to 14.3 mm Hg, REP: 25.7 mm Hg. 4. Whilst the finger pulse pressure agreed well with regard to DBP (method difference for the DBP responses to isoprenaline: DBPf-DBPg: 1.8, 95% CI: -5.1 to 8.6 mm Hg, REP: 18.5 mm Hg) it was rather unsatisfactory with regard to SBP (method difference SBPf-SBPg: -14.1, 95% CI: -28.2 to -0.1 mm Hg, REP: 49.9 mm Hg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1994

[Pharmacodynamic equivalence and clinical trial of a new fluorocarbon-free glycerol trinitrate pump spray with low ethanol content in comparison to a fluorocarbon-containing reference spray and a fluorocarbon-free pump spray with high ethanol content].

The pharmacodynamic equivalence of a fluorohydrocarbons-(FCH)-free glyceryl trinitrate (GTN, CAS 55-63-0)-containing pump spray with low ethanol content (Nitrolingual-Spray N; TL) versus a conventional FCH-containing GTN spray (Nitrolingual-Spray, R) as reference and a FCH-free GTN pump spray with high ethanol content (TH) was investigated by digital plethysmography (DPG) in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled (TL-matched placebo spray), randomized, period-balanced, 4-way cross-over design. Additionally the clinical tolerability (as perceived by the subjects and reported to the treatments-administrating investigator) was determined. The DPG-changes (cla; ratio of c-incisure and systolic a-wave) after the sublingual (s.l.) administration of 0.8 mg GTN of TL were biostatistically equivalent with R: the confidence intervals (CI) of the point estimates of the maximal decrease in cla (TL/R: 0.98, 90%-CI: 0.84 to 1.14) and the area-weighted average decrease in cla (TL/R: 0.97, 90%-CI: 0.80-1.16) were well in a 80-125% tolerance range. The time of occurrence of the maximal DPG-effect of TL was not different from R (distribution-free estimate of the difference TL-R: -2.25 min, 95%-CI: -9.5 min to 2 min). In contrast the maximal DPG-effect of TH after the s.l. administration of 0.8 mg GTN had a statistically significant earlier onset (TH-R: -6 min, 95%-CI: -9.5 min to -2 min) and a higher area-weighted average response (TH/R: 1.12, 90%-CI: 0.95 to 1.34). TH consistently caused an utterly unpleasant burning sensation in the mouth, thus this perceived local discomfort was distinctly different compared to all other treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Sublingual↗